Pequaming, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pequaming, Michigan
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 Pequaming, Michigan
Location in Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Baraga |
| Township | L'Anse |
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
49958
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| Area code(s) | 906 |
| GNIS feature ID | 634613 |
Pequaming (/pəˈkwɒmɪŋ/ pə-KWAH-ming) is a small, unincorporated community in L'Anse Township, Baraga County, Michigan. It sits on a narrow piece of land that sticks out into Keweenaw Bay. Even though some people still live there, Pequaming is known as one of the biggest "ghost towns" in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Contents
History of Pequaming
Early Days of Pequaming
Long ago, Pequaming was home to the Ojibwe tribe. Their settlement was called Pequaquawaming, which means "the headland." This name describes the narrow land almost surrounded by water. The land at Pequaming is shaped like a bear. Picnic Point is the head, the lumberyard is the tail, and two sandy beaches are the legs. The shoreline forms the bear's back.
By 1836, when a trader named Peter Crebassa visited, the small Native American village was no longer active.
The Lumber Mill Era
In 1877, two men, Charles Hebard and Edward Thurber, bought a large area of land on Keweenaw Point. They liked this spot because it had a deep, safe harbor and easy access to lots of trees. Their lumber mill started with $200,000, mostly owned by their families.
They first leased the mill site from David King, who was the Chief of the local Chippewa tribe. After he passed away, they bought the land from his family. The company also bought the town site from Mrs. Eliza Bennett in 1877.
The mill was first called Hebard and Thurber. Later, the partnership ended, and Charles Hebard became the only owner. He renamed his company Charles Hebard and Sons.
A Thriving Company Town
At its busiest, the company employed many people. About 200 men worked full-time in the mill. Another 300 worked in the nearby forests. In total, nearly 1,000 men worked for the company. They owned 100,000 acres (400 km2) of timber land across several counties in Michigan.
The company owned all the buildings and land in the town. It was called a "lumberman's utopia" because rent and water were free. Workers could also get wood from the mill for a very low price.
The town had many facilities for its residents. These included the mill, a company store, offices, and places for workers to live. There was also a hotel, a stable for horses, a bowling alley, and bath houses. The community also had churches, schools, parks, a band, an orchestra, and an ice rink. More than 100 houses were built for the workers and their families.
Mill Operations and Products
The Pequaming mill was the first big lumber and milling operation in the Lake Superior area. Between 1880 and 1900, the mill cut a huge amount of wood. On average, they cut over 30 million board feet of lumber each year. This included 25 million board feet of boards and 7 million board feet of lath (thin strips of wood).
When the supply of white pine trees started to run out, the company switched to cutting hemlock and cedar. The pine was made into 1x4 lumber, and cedar was used for shingles. Hemlock was turned into lath. Other products included rail ties for train tracks and hemlock bark for tanneries (places that make leather).
For shipping, the lumber was loaded into train cars. These cars were then put onto large boats called scows. The scows were towed across the bay to Baraga. From there, the lumber was shipped by train to other places. The first sawmill burned down in 1887, but a bigger one was built in just 60 days.
Henry Ford's Influence
When Charles Hebard passed away in 1904, his sons Daniel and Charles took over the company. In 1913, a house called "The Bungalow" was built. This house later became the summer home of Henry Ford, the famous car maker.
In 1922, the Ford Motor Company wanted to buy only the timber lands from the Hebards. But the Hebards wanted to make sure Pequaming had a future. So, they convinced Ford to buy the mill and the entire town too. On September 8, 1923, Ford Motor Company bought the mill and town for $2,850,000. This included the sawmill, other mills, 40,000 acres (160 km2) of timber land, and a lot of lumber and logs. It also included the town's land and buildings, the railroad, and all the towing and water equipment.
Ford began making changes to the mill. They removed some parts and added a new powerhouse. This powerhouse had a very powerful 1,000 horsepower engine from a World War I boat. After repairs, the sawmill reopened on September 24. Workers now earned $5 per day for an eight-hour shift, which was more than the previous $3.50 for a longer day.
By early 1925, Ford connected the Hebard railroad to the Ford railroad in L'Anse. This allowed each plant to focus on one type of wood. Lumber from Pequaming was often shipped by water to Ford plants in other states. This lumber was mostly used for making crates. Better quality lumber was sent by train to Iron Mountain for use in making cars. At its busiest, the sawmill provided wood for car floorboards, truck boxes, and wood panels for station wagons.
The Great Depression and World War II
By 1933, during the Great Depression, fewer cars were being sold. This meant there was very little demand for lumber. When the mill was not operating, Henry Ford found other work for the residents. He started a cooperative farm east of town. The company store also lowered its food prices and gave clothes and shoes to employees and their families.
Ford also used Pequaming to test his ideas about self-reliance and education. He opened a vocational school in his summer home, which was used during the school year. In September 1935, he also opened four one-room elementary and intermediate schools. In 1937, the company built a high school. This school had modern home economics labs for cooking and sewing, a library, and even the first fluorescent lights in a Michigan school.
In 1935, the company decided to ship its products by truck. They also started "just in time" shipping for their logging. This meant logs were delivered right when they were needed. When the United States entered World War II, the company's ships were used for the war effort. This meant lumber had to be trucked to L'Anse and then shipped by rail. However, a shortage of truck tires and higher shipping costs led the company to close the mill on October 9, 1942. The last logs were cut on October 28.
Buildings of Pequaming
Many old buildings still stand in Pequaming today. These include the water tower and the original company store. Henry Ford's summer home, known as "The Bungalow," and his guest house are also still there. Several other old houses remain, along with the ruins of the sawmill powerhouse. Today, many new homes and summer houses have been built in the area.
Historic Structures
- The original stamp mill of Hebard and Thurber started operating in 1877.
- A post office served Pequaming from May 17, 1880, until January 31, 1944.
- There were two roundhouses for trains, one built around 1940 and another in 1923.
- By 1940, Pequaming had four elementary schools. A high school also existed, with a place for students to board.
- Lumber sheds were built in Pequaming around 1940.
